Acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick and his Heatherwick Studios have just unveiled renderings of the ‘Vessel’, a gigantic set of staircases to nowhere which are due to be built in New York City’s Hudson Yards on the Far West Side of the Manhattan.

Thomas Heatherwick’s ‘Vessel’ Structure will stand at a mammoth 15 floors tall and will be fitted with over 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs, culminating in 2,500 climbable steps. It will weigh 600 tons and has a reported budget of over $150 million.

The first images are reminiscent of M.C. Escher’s famous ‘Relativity’ work from all the way back in 1953. The lithographic print illustrates a set of stairs all interweaving with each other while leading to nowhere in particular.

Heatherwick has been involved in the design of various projects over the years – most notably he was asked to design the Olympic Cauldron for London 2012. He was also asked to design the New Routemaster bus, the first new double decker bus commissioned for London in 50 years.

The ‘Vessel’ will have around 80 viewing platforms in it, with Heatherwick saying his inspiration for the structure came from Indian stepwells. Heatherwick has said he hopes New Yorkers will use the structure as a free space to relax, contemplate and even exercise.

The structure itself isn’t due to be completed until 2018 but construction has already begun in Monfalcone, Italy, where the bronzed-steel and concrete pieces which make up the structure are being made. The structure, however, won’t start being assembled until later next year on site.

‘Vessel’ will be completed in 2018. Head over to the Heatherwick Studios Website for updates and to check out more of their works.

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